THE CHALLENGED SEPTEMBER WRITING PROMPT

Gone But Not Forgotten. When Childhood Items are Discarded

A writing prompt by yours truly

Created by the Author using Bing

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I could kick myself for not keeping several childhood items. Years later, when childhood and motherhood collided, the memories started flooding in, and I wondered what had happened to them.

It’s inexplicable why some come to mind when, at the time, some even seemed insignificant. Their powerful reincarnation now elicits sadness and a sense of loss. If I had realised that those items would become a gateway to a wealth of memories, I’d have been more prudent at preserving their existence.

The musical jewellery box

When Mum and Dad moved to a smaller house, I was living at the other end of the country and was too busy working and dating to be bothered by what were, at the time, irrelevant items. I let them do what they had to do, and in the process, a bunch of stuff that I probably would’ve kept ended up in the second-hand store or the dumpster.

Remember the musical jewellery boxes that played a tune when you lifted the lid and a dancer in a tutu, twirled around with her hands above her head in the perfect ballet pose? The small golden clasp was the difference between a pretty-covered box and a moment of awe as she spun into action.

It disappeared.

Polly the Dolly

My sister still has her doll, Susan. But what happened to Polly, my doll? I know the poor thing was tortured while in my care. My sister and I play-acted being dentists and hairdressers, so her mop of brown hair was hacked and her gums drilled with the end of a compass and filled with tinfoil.

By the time my parents would have found her years later amongst boxes of clutter, she most definitely ended up in a dumpster, since she looked beyond repair.

[embed]A Childhood Doll Swept Me Back To the Seventies The story of Susan and two little girls.medium.com

A Speech

The one thing I am disappointed to have not kept is my speech in the local competitions that earned me first place. It was about Gnomes — but throughout the presentation I called them g-nomes. I have the adjudicator’s report, but the actual presentation is gone.

I worked hard on the content and delivery, and wish I hadn’t been so reckless with what now would be a wonderful token of my first attempt at writing something worthy.

My clothes

Mum was a talented seamstress. She made all of our clothes when we were small, often spending hours at the machine as soon as we were marched off to bed. I wish I had kept a couple of her creations, but sadly, I never did.

I honoured her creativity years ago when I was scrapbooking. I even machine-sewed the monograms and text onto the page!

The text reads:

As I was flicking through the few photos I have from when I was a child, one thing really jumped out at me: The clothes I was wearing. From fairisle cardigans to fancy dresses, my Mum made them all. I don’t know where she found the time to patiently knit or sew each evening, especially after a busy day with three active children, but somehow she did.

I know that the colour photo is a pretty goofy-looking one of us, but I adored my green dress and was so proud to have the only dress like it. Of course, back then, I never appreciated the time and effort Mum spent making our clothes, but I have her to thank for my crafty side and for teaching me how to knit. Unfortunately, these days it is easier and cheaper to head to Walmart and the like for my kids’ clothes…but probably just as well, as I am impatient when it comes to sewing, and it would greatly diminish the little time I have to scrapbook!!

scrapbook page created by author

If anything, my loss has caused me to be more mindful of my kids’ special items. Even though they’re not remotely interested in their existence right now, each kid has two plastic containers full of their favourite books, special clothes, wonderful school work and of course their beloved teddies and toys (save one Teddy who is still beary much loved!)

What special items do you wish you had kept from your childhood?

[embed]Sprinting Into September But running latemedium.com